What Do I Do if the EEOC Will Not Investigate My Claim?
When faced with discrimination or sexual harassment in the workplace, an employee may file a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC was formed to help enforce laws against workplace discrimination.
The EEOC is a small organization and it receives a large number of charges from employees across the county. Therefore, it is important to make sure your charge is properly filed and investigated. An experienced employment law attorney can help you draft your charge and ensure the proper steps are taken.
Oftentimes, the EEOC will simply send you a ‘right to sue’ letter. This letter means the EEOC has dismissed your charge and you now have 90 days to file a lawsuit in federal court.
If you receive a right to sue letter, it is important to contact an experienced employment law attorney right away to help you through the process.
We highly recommend that you consult with an attorney before contacting the EEOC. Once you contact the EEOC it will begin its investigation with your employer, meaning you may not have enough time to gather all of the proper evidence before the process is started. For more information about this, you can visit our other FAQ here.